I also agree with getting quality brushes and rollers. It will make a huge difference in the quality of the job. Money well spent.
Can anyone provide pointers on how to cut in well? I’m usually disappointed with the results since I don’t get a nice, straight line with even color. I don’t get paint on the moulding or whatever, but the edge does not have a clean appearance. I prefer tape since I can get a perfect line.
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Can anyone provide pointers on how to cut in well?
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Other than “zen” and to use a tapered sash brush, I don’t really know. I dip the brush in the paint and wipe off one side - that’s the side that goes to the corner.
I touch the brush to the one surface about 1/8" away from the edge and gently swoop in to the edge with gentle pressure. It’s all but impossible to get good edges without enough paint in the brush - too little, and the bristles start to fly away. The trick is finding the balance - too much, and it starts to drip.
This is more of a design idea, but when you’re picking colors, consider doing an accent wall. We just redid our living room, and it’s amazing (at least to me) how much better a room looks when you paint most of the walls one color, and pick one “focus” wall to paint with a darker more intense color that looks good with the main color. For example, we did most of our walls in kind of a light butterscotch colors, and the accent wall is a darker mango orange. It really brings out the room. Google “accent walls” for some ideas and tips.
Practice, practice, practice. 
Seriously, I could show you (or better yet, get one of my pro friends to show you), but to tell you how in print? Not really. Maybe there are some videos online? Or maybe someone at the paint store could show you when you go there to buy good paint?
But mostly, it’s just practice. Try cutting-in to an imaginary line in the middle of the wall, where you’re going to paint over it anyway. Do that a bunch, until you can get a nice, clean, straight line.
I painted a lot of bad cuts before I got the hang of it. I’m still not very good, compared to my buddies.
And even with that, it still comes out better and hella faster than tape. YMMV.
Here’s my best attempt:
Start with a good quality angled & tapered 2" brush and high quality paint. (Pros can cut in with any damn thing, but it’s easier to use a small brush to start with.)
Dip the brush into the paint and then drag one side lightly against the rim of your paint bucket to remove the excess. You want just enough paint - not too much, not too little.
Lightly press the short end of the brush against the wall you’re painting, about a half-inch away from the corner, and sort of slide/twist the brush into the corner. What you want is for the brush to splay out into a thin line of bristles, with that thin line right at the corner you’re painting into.
Then just paint straight down the edge.
When you’ve painted as far as you can in one movement, do it all over again.
Keep a clean, damp rag handy to clean up any spots on the ceiling.
ETA: And when I say corner, I mean corner where two walls or wall/ceiling meet, not necessarily the actual corner where 3 meet up.
Don’t paint when you’re sleepy. I stayed up way too late painting my room and as I was getting off the ladder, I tripped over the paint can and knocked it over. It was half-full. And then it was completely empty.
In regards to rollers, with a new roller, wrap the roller with masking tape smooshing it on. IT will catch all the loose fibres so they end up on the tape instead of the first few feet of wall.
I will also disagree with those who say to paint barefoot. I wear a pair of slippers or socks (thick enough so the paint doesn’t go through to my feet) and then take them off when I leave the tarped area and put them back on when I enter the area.
Also, if you have cats, they will get nosy. Best to keep them away (I set up a fan at the entry to the room I am doing, they hate fans).
Don’t use glossy paint. Every little imperfection will show up. For better cleanability, add 1 pint of glossy to a gallon of matte. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, then the molding. If you can remove the molding, take it off to paint it. If the ceiling is a different color, paint over the edges onto the walls for at least about 1/2", then mask the top half inch of the wall and paint the rest under that. The line will be better looking than a color change in the corner between the wall and ceiling.
I agree with this. I hate masking tape, it always seems to pull bits of paint off when you remove it.
If you do use masking tape aand you haven’t removed it before the paint dries, then run a sharp knife along the edge of it to cut through the dried paint before peeling it off to avoid damaging the finish. This is especially useful around light switches etc.
You remove the light switch cover plate before painting.
My favorite tip is if you need to take a break in the middle of painting you can wrap your brush or roller in plastic and put it in the refrigerator, then, when you get back to painting the brush or roller will still be usable and not all dried out.
That way you don’t have to clean them every time you need a break.
If it is going to be a long time (more than a day or two) between coats, you can even put them in the freezer. Let them thaw for an hour or so before the next coat.